Ice tongs



Oct. 24, 1939. D, HENDERSON 2,177,038

ICE TONGS Filed gov. 8, 1938 A? 2/ ze 20 1 Z 5 Z? 2 I I 26 24 6 V 26.

BY M.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE 2 Claims.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a pair of ice tongs. One object of the invention is to provide a handle so constructed that it will afford no discomfort to the operator, the hand of the operator being prevented from slipping lengthwise of the handle. A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding the anchors in the ends of the handle. Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for limiting the inward swinging of the links of the ice tongs. A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for stopping the opening movement of the jaws of the ice tongs, even though the jaws may have Worn loose on the pivot member that connects them. Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the ice tongs can be used when there is a limited space between a block of ice and the walls of a refrigerator, it being possible, thus, to put into the refrigerator, a larger block of ice than would be possible otherwise.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of What is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation, a pair of ice tongs constructed in accordance with the invention, the tongs being opened;

Fig. 2 is a top plan;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing how parts coact when the jaws are closed, portions being broken away;

Fig. 4% is a composite perspective showing one of the anchors and the tube out of which the handle is made;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section taken longitudinally of one of the anchors and associated parts;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental side elevation showing a slight modification.

The pair of ice tongs forming the subject matter of this application preferably is made of metal throughout. It includes a hollow handle I, having an upward curve, the handle being formed from a tube 2, pressed to the shape hereinafter described. The handle I is of elliptical cross section, as shown in Fig. 6, the major transverse axis 3 of the handle being at right angles to the planes in which the jaws d of the ice tongs swing. Thereby, the handle 5 presents a broad, lower, convexed surface 5 to the hand of the user. The intermediate portion of the lower part of the handle 5 is raised, as shown at 6, to afford" stop shoulders l, which prevent the hand of the user from slipping lengthwise of the handle to a position in which the hand of the user might be pinched by the jaws i, when the jaws are opened as shown in Fig. 1.

U-shaped anchors 8 are provided, each anchor including side arms 9 and a bend I connecting the side arms. The bends I0 of the anchors 8 extend into the terminal portions of the handle I. Outstanding lugs H are struck from the arms 9 of the anchors 8, and are located within the handle 5. The handle i has restricted terminal portions I2, forming shoulders I4 engaged with the lugs I I, to prevent the anchors 8 from moving outwardly. The terminal portions I2 of the handle I are inwardly extended, as shown at l5, and engage the bends I0 of the anchors, between the arms 9, to prevent the anchors from moving outwardly. The engagement between the parts E of the handle I and the bends I0 of the anchors 8 is indicated at I6 in Fig. 5. If additional security is desired, fastening elements H, such as rivets, may extend through the terminal portions I2 of the handle 4 and through holes in the side arms of the anchors 8. If desired, the fastening elements I? may be dispensed with, and the structure shown in Fig. 9 may be used. In Fig. 9, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suffix a. In this form of the invention, the side arms 9a of the anchors 8a are connected to the handle I by welding shown at I 9.

Links 20 are supplied, and each link is provided at one end with a reduced tongue 2!, forming transverse stops on each side of the tongue, the stops being marked by the numeral 22. The reduced tongues 2| of the links 20 extend between the arms 9 of the anchors 8. Pivot elements 23 are mounted in openings I8 in the arms 9 of the anchors 8, the pivot elements passing through the tongues 2! of the links 20, as disclosed in Fig. 5. The stops 22 engage the lower edges of the arms 9 of the anchors 8, as shown in Fig. 3, to limit the inward swinging movement of the links 29.

The lower or outer ends of the links 20 are bifurcated to form ears 2L and 25, in which are mounted pivot elements 26. The upper ends of the jaws 4 are received between the ears 24 and 25 and are mounted to swing on the pivot elements 23. The jaws 4 are located side by side, in parallel planes, as shown in Fig. 2. The jaws 4 are connected at their point of crossing by a pivot element 21. The ears 25 of the links 20 are thicker than the ears 24. Each of the thickened ears 25 forms an abutment for one of the jaws l, when the jaws are opened. The jaws 1 tend to wear adjacent to the pivot element 21, and, after a time, there will be some lateral movement of the jaws, longitudinally of the pivot element 21. It is on account of this lateral movement, due to wear, that the ears 25 are made broader than the ears 24, and the ears 25 always serving as stops or abutments for the jaws i, when the jaws are opened, even though there may be some lateral movement between the jaws.

The jaws 4 terminate, at their lower ends, in inwardly extended ice grips 28, the ice grips being disposed so nearly at right angles to the jaws 4, when the jaws are fully opened, as shown in Fig. 1, that the ice grips 28 can work in narrow spaces between a block of ice and the walls of an ice box, it being possible, thus, to put into the ice box, a larger chunk of ice than would be possible otherwise.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is simple in construction, but it embodies novel structural features, which make it a strong, effective and satisfactory tool.

What is claimed is:

1. A pair of ice tongs comprising a tubular handle, U-shaped anchors, open at the top and bottom, each anchor including side arms and a terminal bend connecting the side arms, the bends of the anchors extending into the terminal portions of the handle, the arms of the anchors having openings which form outstanding lugs located within the handle, the terminal portions of the handle being restricted to form shoulders engaged with the lugs to prevent the anchors from moving outwardly, crossed jaws pivotally connected at their place of crossing, and means for connecting the upper ends of the jaws pivotally with the anchors between the arms of the anchors.

2. A pair of ice tongs comprising a tubular handle, U-shaped anchors, open at the top and bottom, each anchor including side arms and a terminal bend connecting the side arms, the bends of the anchors extending into the terminal portions of the handle, the arms of the anchors having outstanding lugs located within the handle, the terminal portions of the handle being restricted to form shoulders engaged with the lugs to prevent the anchors from moving outwardly, crossed jaws pivotally connected at their place of their crossing, and means for connecting the upper ends of the jaws pivotally with the anchors between the arms of the anchors, the terminal portions of the handle being inwardly extended and engaging the bends of the anchors, between the arms of the anchors, to prevent the anchors from moving outwardly.

DOUGLAS HENDERSON. 

